Old Photos and Articles about Rainham Kent

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Rainham History - History of Rainham Kent, Old Photos and Life in Bygone Times

Rainham History - Old Photos & Articles about Rainham Kent

Old Historical Photographs of Rainham Kent Rainham is one of the Medway Towns in North Kent which also includes Gillingham, Chatham and Rochester. More updates and requests for info can be found on the Rainham History Facebook page, click Like to get updates. Rainham has a number of distinct areas such as Parkwood, Wigmore, Rainham Mark, Twydall along with Meresborough and Lower Rainham. The aim of this site is to create an archive of historical information and photos about the history of Rainham, Kent and the surrounding areas.

 

Rainham History - Old Photos & Articles about Rainham Kent

 

Bumbles Wine Bar - Rainham Kent 1982

This photo of Bumbles wine bar was taken in November 1982. The sign in the window reads "Bumbles Open Thursday 18th Nov at 7pm" so presumably the photo was taken to advertise the opening of the wine bar on that date. Bumbles wine bar was located on Rainham High Street almost opposite Pudding Road. The wine bar was owned by James Field. The building is now PHC Homecare appliance repair shop.

Apparently the building was Fred's Cafe in the 1960s with many people having fond memories of visiting for strong cups of tea. By 1990 the building had become an Indian restaurant so Bumbles Wine bar was open less than 8 years. Fred's Cafe in Rainham is listed in the 1951 High Street traders at 126 High Street.

Bumbles wine bar was located on Rainham High Street almost opposite Pudding Road

I can't really recall this wine bar existing in Rainham when I was a teenager so assume it wasn't open for very long.

The photo below shows the PHC service centre in 2001. You can see the step is the same as the Bumbles wine bar photo above.

Bumbles wine bar was located on Rainham High Street previously Fred's cafe in the 1960s

Chestnuts High Street Rainham Kent

This photo of Chestnuts on High Street Rainham was kindly provided by Michael Ball who writes "My grandmother, and sisters were born in Popes Hall in Hartlip and eventually moved to Canada. I have a fairly extensive collection of Wakeley and Rainham pictures which I have added to my family history collection. I am attaching an early picture of what I believe is "The Chestnuts" on the High Street in Rainham. I believe that it was the home of one of the members of the Wakeley family at one time."
 
This impressive building was demolished to make way for housing in Rainham.
 
Chestnuts High Street Rainham Kent
 
It was reported for the 1887 Jubilee celebrations for Queen Victoria that "At The Chestnuts, a house owned by local preacher and businessman Thomas Stanley Wakeley, the colours of the barge ‘Richmond’ surmounted the building accompanied by a transparency of the crown surrounded by flags."